Gorgan University of Agricultural SciencesInternational Journal of Plant Production1735-68141735-80438320140501info00ENinfohttp://ijpp.gau.ac.ir/article_1610.htmlhttp://ijpp.gau.ac.ir/article_1610_da6e4d308e37c732020b2b7ac5b3e826.pdfGorgan University of Agricultural SciencesInternational Journal of Plant Production1735-68141735-80438320140501Implications of organic management on yield,tuber quality and soil health in yams in the humid tropics291310ENG.SujaCentral Tuber Crops Research Institute, Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017, Kerala, India.sujagin@yahoo.comJ.SreekumarCentral Tuber Crops Research Institute, Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017, Kerala, India.10.22069/ijpp.2014.1611Global consciousness of food safety, health and environmental issues has
stimulated interest in alternative agricultural systems like organic farming. Since
information on organic farming of tuber crops is meagre, a field experiment was
conducted in split plot design over a five-year period at Central Tuber Crops
Research Institute, India. The aims were to evaluate the impact of organic,
conventional and traditional production systems on yield, proximate composition
and mineral content of tubers and soil physico-chemical and biological properties
in three species of Dioscorea (white yam: D. rotundata, greater yam: D. alata and
lesser yam: D. esculenta). The production systems were assigned to main plots and
species to subplots. Organic farming (20.34 t ha-1) produced significantly higher
yield over conventional practice (18.64 t ha-1) by 9%. All the species responded
well to organic management, which lowered the bulk density and particle density
slightly and improved the water holding capacity (by 15%) of soil. Tuber quality
was improved with significantly higher Ca (72.67 mg 100g-1), slightly higher dry
matter, crude protein, K and Mg contents. Organic plots showed significantly
higher available K, by 34% and pH, by 0.46 unit and higher soil organic matter by
14%. The dehydrogenase enzyme activity (1.174 μg TPF formed g-1 soil h-1),
population of bacteria, fungi and P solubilizers were promoted by 14%, 23%, 17%
and 22% respectively. Thus organic farming was found to be an eco-friendly
management strategy in yams for sustainable yield of quality tubers besides
maintaining soil health. Technology involving farmyard manure, green manuring,
neem cake, biofertilizers and ash was standardized.
Keywords: Alternative farming; Dioscorea spp.; Productivity; Tuber quality; Soil
quality.http://ijpp.gau.ac.ir/article_1611.htmlhttp://ijpp.gau.ac.ir/article_1611_d763a7f146cdaf8ad4be80b2982604f8.pdfGorgan University of Agricultural SciencesInternational Journal of Plant Production1735-68141735-80438320140501Effect of plant spacing and organic mulch on growth,yield and quality of natural sweetener plant Stevia and soil fertility in western Himalayas311334ENR.KumarNatural Plant Products Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research), Post Box No 6, Palampur 176 061 (HP), India.rakeshkumar@ihbt.res.inS.SoodNatural Plant Products Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research), Post Box No 6, Palampur 176 061 (HP), India.S.SharmaNatural Plant Products Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research), Post Box No 6, Palampur 176 061 (HP), India.R.C.KasanaHill Area Tea Science Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research), Post Box No 6, Palampur 176 061 (HP), India.V.L.PathaniaNatural Plant Products Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research), Post Box No 6, Palampur 176 061 (HP), India.B.SinghNatural Plant Products Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research), Post Box No 6, Palampur 176 061 (HP), India.R.D.SinghBiodiversity Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research), Post Box No 6, Palampur 176 061 (HP), India.10.22069/ijpp.2014.1612The use of leaf mulch as a soil cover is effective in improving yield and soil
fertility. The field experiment was conducted during 2010 and 2011 to study the
effect of plant spacing (30 cm × 30 cm and 45 cm × 30 cm) and four mulches {pine
needles (Pinus roxburghii), poplar leaf (Populus deltoides), silver oak (Grevillea
robusta) tree leaf mulch and unmulched control} on growth, yield, quality of stevia
and soil fertility. Weed count and dry weed weight was not affected by spacing
levels during August and at the time of harvest, whereas, in unmulched plots it was
significantly higher than mulched plots. Dry leaf yield, total dry biomass and leaf
area index (LAI) were significantly higher in 30 cm × 30 cm spacing level and
poplar leaf mulch. All the mulched plots significantly increased organic carbon
(OC), available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), bacterial and
fungal population compared to unmulched plots. Rebaudioside-A content was
higher in plots mulched with poplar leaves. Steviol glycosides were not
significantly affected by different treatments. Soil biological activities were also
enhanced by tree leaf mulches. Leaf mulch enhanced microbial biomass, relative to
non-mulched soils, likely via improving C and water availability for soil microbes.
Keywords: Stevia; Organic mulch; Spacing; Growth; Yield; Steviol glycoside.http://ijpp.gau.ac.ir/article_1612.htmlhttp://ijpp.gau.ac.ir/article_1612_9e392e620cb2122ca12bde975af19bd2.pdfGorgan University of Agricultural SciencesInternational Journal of Plant Production1735-68141735-80438320140501Responses of rooting traits in peanut genotypes under pre-flowering drought stress335352ENN.JongrungklangDepartment of Plant Science and Agricultural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University,
Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.S.Jogloyhttps://orcid.org/00Department of Plant Science and Agricultural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University,
Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.sanun@kku.ac.thT.KesmalaDepartment of Plant Science and Agricultural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University,
Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.N.VorasootDepartment of Plant Science and Agricultural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University,
Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.A.PatanothaiDepartment of Plant Science and Agricultural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University,
Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.aran@kku.ac.th10.22069/ijpp.2014.1613The root is an important plant part contributing to peanut productivity underwater-limited conditions. Root volume, root surface area and root diameter may becharacters responding to pre-flowering drought (PFD) in peanut. The objectives ofthis study were to investigate the responses to PFD for root surface area, rootvolume and root diameter and to determine the inter-relationships among theresponse of rooting traits and the response of yield. The experiment was conductedunder field conditions in the dry season 2007 and 2009. A split-plot experiment ina randomized complete block design was used. The main plots were field capacity(FC) and PFD and six peanut genotypes as the sub-plots. Root volume, rootdiameter and root surface were measured by auger method at 25 days afteremergence (DAE), first seed (R5) and physiological maturity (R7). Total dryweight and pod yield were measured at harvest. Root surface area of ICGV 98305with increase in pod yield was greater in deeper soil layers under PFD compared toFC treatment at both stress and recovery periods. Under PFD conditions, thecorrelations between drought tolerance index (DTI) for root surface area at deepersoil layer and DTI for pod yield in both seasons were positive and significant atstress and recovery periods, but the correlations were not significant for rootdiameter and root volume. The response of peanut for root surface area at deepersoil layer contributed to pod yield. This finding could be useful for peanutproduction in these drought conditions.Keywords: Early season drought; Drought tolerance index; Root volume; Rootdiameter; Root surface area.http://ijpp.gau.ac.ir/article_1613.htmlhttp://ijpp.gau.ac.ir/article_1613_8d10f1d70364534ab22e55bf55dd0561.pdfGorgan University of Agricultural SciencesInternational Journal of Plant Production1735-68141735-80438320140501The role of humic substances in mitigating the harmful effects of soil salinity and improve plant productivity353374ENY.OuniLaboratoire des Plantes Extremphiles, Centre de Biotechnologies de la Technopole de Borj Cedria, BP 901,
Hammam Lif 2050, Tunisia.T.GhnayaLaboratoire des Plantes Extremphiles, Centre de Biotechnologies de la Technopole de Borj Cedria, BP 901,
Hammam Lif 2050, Tunisia.F.MontemurroConsiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura, Unità di Ricerca per lo Studio dei Sistemi
Colturali, 75010 Metaponto, Italy.francesco.montemurro@entecra.itCh.AbdellyLaboratoire des Plantes Extremphiles, Centre de Biotechnologies de la Technopole de Borj Cedria, BP 901,
Hammam Lif 2050, Tunisia.A.LakhdarLaboratoire des Plantes Extremphiles, Centre de Biotechnologies de la Technopole de Borj Cedria, BP 901,
Hammam Lif 2050, Tunisia.abdelbassetlak@yahoo.fr10.22069/ijpp.2014.1614The environmental, social and economical reasons indicate that the
conventional agriculture constitute a continuous pressure contributing to the
progressive worsening of environmental conditions, especially by an increasing
apply high level of inputs. In this matter, the increasing use of saline irrigation
water is one of the main factors resulting in salt accumulation in the plant
rhizosphere influencing both physical, chemical and biological soil properties
and agroecosystem productivity. In this situation, soil degradation emphasized
the need to develop strategies of salt effected soil reclamation. One of the
possible solutions is to use humic substances (HS), since there is an increasing
need to their utilization in agriculture. They are the major components of soil
organic matter, have multiple roles in plant growth and are the subject of study in
various areas of agriculture, such as soil chemistry, soil fertility and plant
physiology. Thus, our hypothesis account for a beneficial effect of HS in salt
affected rhizosphere likely due to a 'direct' action on the plant together with an
'indirect action' on the metabolism of soil microorganisms, the dynamics of
uptake of soil nutrients and soil physical conditions. In this paper we review the
HS formation and components and their influences on improving saline soil
properties as both direct and indirect effects.
Keywords: Humic substance; Salt accumulation; Soil degradation; Plant productivity;
Hormone-like activity.http://ijpp.gau.ac.ir/article_1614.htmlhttp://ijpp.gau.ac.ir/article_1614_d21a65de0aebdbd39542c9ec32e92eda.pdfGorgan University of Agricultural SciencesInternational Journal of Plant Production1735-68141735-80438320140501Drip fertigation effects on yield, nutrient uptake and soil fertility of Bt Cotton in semi arid tropics375390ENM.JayakumarScientist–Agronomy Regional Coffee Res. Station, Chundale, Wayanad, Kerala, India.jayakumaragron@gmail.comU.SurendranScientist, Water Management (Agriculture) Division, CWRDM, Kerala, India.P.ManickasundaramCentre for Soil and Crop Management studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore–641 003.10.22069/ijpp.2014.1615Field experiment was conducted for 2 seasons to study the influence of drip
fertigation in combination with or without bio fertilizers on yield, plant uptake and
soil fertility of Bt cotton. The treatments comprised of four levels of drip
fertigation viz., 75, 100, 125 and 150 per cent of recommended dose of fertilizers
(RDF, NPK) combined with and without bio fertilizers, drip irrigation with soil
surface application of 100 per cent RDF and surface irrigation with soil surface
application of 100 per cent RDF as control. Biofertilizers used for fertigation is
azophosmet containing Azospirillum, phosphobacterium and pink pigmented
facultative methylotroph. Most of the yield attributes viz., number of sympodial
branches per plant, number of fruiting points, bolls per plant, plant uptake and
available soil N, P and K of Bt cotton were significantly increased by the drip
fertigation treatments. Application of 150 per cent RDF as drip fertigation
combined with biofertigation of liquid formulation of azophosmet @ 250 ml
(1012 cells ml-1) ha-1 registered the highest seed cotton yield of 3395 kg ha-1 and
was significantly superior over control. Biofertigation significantly increased seed
cotton yield and a progressive increase in seed yield was noticed with increasing
levels of NPK fertilizer application. Application of nutrients through drip
fertigation improved seed cotton yield by 43.0 per cent compared with
conventional surface irrigation with soil surface application of fertilizers. The
nutrient uptake pattern and post harvest soil fertility status also followed similar
trend and confirmed the significance of drip fertigation with biofertilizers.
Keywords: Available soil nutrients; Cotton; Plant uptake; Yield attributes and yield.http://ijpp.gau.ac.ir/article_1615.htmlhttp://ijpp.gau.ac.ir/article_1615_0cf0a727d844672d4f900a83f4b0ea4d.pdfGorgan University of Agricultural SciencesInternational Journal of Plant Production1735-68141735-80438320140501Influence of catch crop on soil properties and yield of spring barley391408ENE.WilczewskiDepartment of Agrotechnology, University of Technology and Life Sciences, Bydgoszcz, Poland.edward.wilczewski@utp.edu.plA.iotrowska-DługoszDepartment of Soil Science and Soil Protection, University of Technology and Life Sciences, Bydgoszcz, Poland.G.LemańczykDepartment of Entomology and Molecular Phytopathology, University of Technology and Life Sciences,
Bydgoszcz, Poland.10.22069/ijpp.2014.1616Biomass of legumes grown as catch crops improves soil properties and thus soil
conditions for following crops. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of
field pea (Pisum sativum L.) grown as a catch crop and used for green manure on
soil properties and yielding of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Field
experiments were conducted in 2008-2011 in the randomized block design with
four replications, in typical black earth. The experimental factor was the time and
way of catch crop incorporation: in autumn–with plowing (1); in the spring–with
disking (2); control–without a catch crop (3). The soil with the catch crop
contained significantly higher mineral nitrogen in the topsoil during tillering of
barley than the control. Catch crop caused significant decrease in soil moisture and
increase in penetration resistance in the topsoil in autumn. No significant effect of
the catch crop on soil moisture during spring barley growing season in the
following spring was obtained. Catch crop plowing in autumn caused significant
decrease in soil penetration resistance in the 20-30 cm layer in early spring. Catch
crop biomass plowed positively affected the number of spikes in sequential spring
barley. Leaving pea as mulch for winter caused significant increase in 1000 grain
weight compared to the control. Field pea grown as a catch crop for green manure
can be recommended for increasing mineral nitrogen concentration and the soil
biological activity in the topsoil. However, its influence on spring barley yield in
fertile soils is low.
Keywords: Green manure; Spring barley; Soil moisture; Penetration resistance;
Mineral N; Soil microbial activity.http://ijpp.gau.ac.ir/article_1616.htmlhttp://ijpp.gau.ac.ir/article_1616_e88a2e39b916a644305452aa2e697528.pdfGorgan University of Agricultural SciencesInternational Journal of Plant Production1735-68141735-80438320140501Yield and water use efficiency of early potato grown under different irrigation regimes409428ENV.CantoreInstitute of Sciences of Food Production, CNR-ISPA, Via Amendola, 122/O, 70125 Bari, Italy.F.WassarMediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari CIHEAM-IAMB, Via Ceglie, 9, 70010 Valenzano (BA), Italy.S.S.YamaçMediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari CIHEAM-IAMB, Via Ceglie, 9, 70010 Valenzano (BA), Italy.M.H.SellamiNational Research Council of Italy, Institute for Agricultural and Forestry Systems in the Mediterranean
(CNR–ISAFOM), Via Patacca, 85, 80056 Ercolano (NA), Italy.mohamed.sellami@isafom.cnr.itR.AlbrizioNational Research Council of Italy, Institute for Agricultural and Forestry Systems in the Mediterranean
(CNR–ISAFOM), Via Patacca, 85, 80056 Ercolano (NA), Italy.A.M.StellacciConsiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura, Research Unit for Cropping Systems in Dry
Environments (CRA-SCA), Via Celso Ulpiani 5, Bari, Italy.M.TodorovicMediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari CIHEAM-IAMB, Via Ceglie, 9, 70010 Valenzano (BA), Italy.10.22069/ijpp.2014.1617Potato grown for early or off-season production plays a crucial role in the
economy of several areas in the Mediterranean countries. Irrigation is important for
determining yield and earliness, thus a better investigation of plant response under
various pedo-climatic conditions can help to improve resource use efficiency and
farmer income. A two-year field research (2009-2010) was carried out in Apulia
region, southern Italy, on cv Spunta grown under three irrigation regimes: full
irrigation (I100), 50% of full irrigation (I50) and rainfed (I0). Treatments were
arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Plant water
status, plant growth and, at harvesting, water use efficiency, yield and quality
parameters were quantified. Water stress significantly affected yield response: as
an average of the two years, a marketable yield decrement of 25.9 and 63.6% was
observed in I50 and rainfed compared with I100 treatment, respectively. On the
contrary, tuber dry matter and specific gravity increased moving from irrigated
treatments to the rainfed one and varied also as a function of experimental year.
The results confirmed that irrigation is required for early potato cultivation because
rainfall is not sufficient to meet crop water needs. In addition, the study indicated
that the irrigation regime reduced by 50% of crop water requirements was able to
furnish satisfactory yield, with tuber quality characteristics similar or even better
than those obtained under full irrigation.
Keywords: Solanum tuberosum L.; Mediterranean climate; Leaf water potential;
Deficit irrigation; Yield components; Tuber quality.http://ijpp.gau.ac.ir/article_1617.htmlhttp://ijpp.gau.ac.ir/article_1617_b92ad898f6a25e0bbc9f4f82afbba1ec.pdfGorgan University of Agricultural SciencesInternational Journal of Plant Production1735-68141735-80438320140501Effect of tillage and residue management on productivity of soybean and physico-chemical properties of soil in soybean–wheat cropping system429440ENA.MonsefiFormer Ph.D Student, Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.a.monsefi@yahoo.comA.R.SharmaDirector, of Directorate of Weed Science Research, Jabalpur, MP, India.N.Rang ZanAssistance Professor, Department of Soil Science, University of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Ramin,
Mollasani, Khozestan, Iran.U.K.BeheraPrinciple Scientist, Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.T.K.DasPrinciple Scientist, Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.10.22069/ijpp.2014.1618A microplot experiment was conducted in soybean–wheat cropping system
at New Delhi during 2010-11 and 2011-12 to study the effect of continuous or
cyclic tillage, viz., conventional tillage (CT) and zero-tillage (ZT) and residue
management of either soybean (SR) and/or wheat (WR) on yield performance and
soil physico-chemical properties. The experiment was laid out in randomized block
design with two replications in microplots of size 4×1.4 m. Plant height of soybean
was influenced due to tillage and residue management at different growth stages.
All yield attributes of soybean were showed variation due to treatments. The
harmful effects of ZT on yield attributes could be overcome with residue
application on soil surface. The results indicated that tillage and residue
management to the immediate crop of soybean was more important for increasing
grain yield (26%) and stover production (32%) of soybean and the residual effect
of residue to previous soybean was relatively small. The change in organic C was
relatively small even with regular addition of crop residues. There was no change
in available nutrients (N, P and K) due to tillage and residue management
treatments. The variation in soil physical properties was also small and a
significant improvement may be expected over several years of continuous
application of crop residue and ZT.
Keywords: Conventional tillage; Residue management; Soybean; Wheat; Zero
tillage.http://ijpp.gau.ac.ir/article_1618.htmlhttp://ijpp.gau.ac.ir/article_1618_bccf30428065143ba21c7fd14397b735.pdf